Mechanism for knitting runproof or run-resistant knitted fabric



Oct. 30, 1934.

H. V. W. SCOTT MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec.

15, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet l Inve 77/202 Oct. 30, 1934. I H v w SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec. 15, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 30, 1934. H. v; w. SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed D90. 15. 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 30, 1934. H. v. w. SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec. 15, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 lurks-271E07 11192 5132 3 VVZEZOO 3i,

Oct. 30, 1934. vv w SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN- RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec. 15. 1932 Fig.9.

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MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC I nveri/ior Her6er2 VWSoo 2 a M mm-Ma mud (HF/Z596.

Oct. 30, 1934.

H. v. w. SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec.

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 M I nve nifo 2 Herfievif WQ OZZ, (5 HM! Oct. 30, 1934. H v w SCOTT 1,978,411

MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Filed Dec. 15, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES- MECHANISM FOR KNITTING RUNPROOF OR RUN-RESISTANT KNITTED FABRIC Herbert V. W. Scott, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor to Van lgaalte Company, New York,.N.Y., a corporation of New York Application December 15,

1932, Serial No. 647,365

17 Claims. (01. 66-135) This invention relates to mechanism for knit,-

ting run-proof or strongly run-resistant knitted 'fabric, and is an improvement upon, and con-' stituted a continuation as to common subject matter of, my co-pending application Ser. No. 628,391, filed August 11, 1932.

In order to make clear the principle of my invention, I have in the accompanying drawings shown one form of means for practising my invention and particularly for applying certain increased tension to those warp threads which are being incorporated intoand form a part of those needle wales which are engaged by the narrowing points in effecting the leg narrowings.

In the drawingsi Fig. 1 is a blank from which the stocking is made;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the completed stocking;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the fabric at the narrowings, said view corresponding exactly to a photograph of a fabric made by a microscopic camera;

I Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the right hand end portion of the well known Reading machine having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of said mechanism;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view, a front elevation, and a rear elevation of part of the means for throwing additional or warp thread fingers in groups out of action to effect shaping or fashioning of the fabric;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of that part of the mechanism shown at the upper portion of Fig. 4 and representing one form of means to apply additional tension to those warp threads that are contained in those needle wales, stitches whereof are being or are to be laterally transferred by the narrowing points;

Fig. 10 is a detail in vertical section of the tensioning rod or means;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 9 but showing a somewhat modified means for applying tension to the said warp threads Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the stru tensioning means shown in Fig. 11;

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a plan view and a front elevation-of means for moving the narrow-' ing point bars by which the additional tensioning means is controlled;

Fig. 15 is a verticalsection upon an enlarged scale taken through the knitting instrumentalities to show their relative position.

Except for means for applying an additional tension to those warp threads which pertain to cture of full-fashioned needlewales, stitches whereof are takenbythe narrowing points and laterally transferred, the mechanism may be and desirably is the same or substantially the same as that shown in my said application Ser. No. 628,391, and the fabric made by said mechanism is the same as that made by the mechanism of my said application.

In my said applicationI have disclosed and claimed means for transferring at narrowings stitches composed of a main knitting thread and warp threads. All the warp threads of the fabric beams.

I have discovered in the course of my experimentations that the best effects are secured by applying an increased or subsidiary or additional tension, at the time of making the said transfers or narrowings, to all of those warp threads which pertain to needle wales entered by the narrowing points, and transferred by the action of those points. In making lateral transfers of any full fashioned fabric, the points, having penetrated the stitches or loops and rising therewith, tend slightly to lift the structure of the fabric from the plane of the rest of the fabric. This tends to interfere somewhat with the tension upon those warp threads whichpertain to the needle wales, stitches whereof are penetrated by the transfer points. Accordingly I apply additional tension to all of said warp threads which pertain to needle wales whose stitches are transferred by narrowing points, and I preferably provide such additional tension only at the .time of such narrowing operation, although my invention, is not restricted to applying the additional tension only at such time.

I will therefore describe the general structure of the fabric and so far as necessary the general operation of the mechanism which is common to this application and to my saidapplication Ser.

No. 628,391, and will then describe the application resistant in both directions throughout the-entire extent of the hosiery.

The machine is in practice provided with the usual numberof sections upon each of which is knitted a stocking leg and the heel tabs and the I instep of the foot, so as to make an English type of foot, but my invention is not restricted in this respect. I have in the drawings shown only a single section of the machine, but it is to be understood that each section of the Reading or other type of machine has my invention applied thereto.

'Any suitable hosiery yarn or thread may be employed as the main knitting yarn or thread as, for example, silk, artificial silk, rayon, cotton or wool, and I shall use the words main thread broadly to include any such type of thread or others that may be suitable. The main thread may be changed from time to time in knittingithe stocking as may be necessary, as, for example, at the end of the welt and in the foot. It will be understood that reinforcing threads may be introduced additional threads which are of the same character as the main thread, thus giving a uniform structure and appearance to the resulting hosiery, and one which will not be objected to by those who prefer hosiery having the normal or usual stitch so far as the main thread is concerned. I It will be evident that inasmuch as both the main knitting thread and all the warp and additional threads are of the same character (as, for example, real silk), the necessary or inevitable slight difference in thickness of the main knitting thread at different parts of the length due to any cause, will be overcome or neutralized or very greatly minimized by reason of the presence of the said warp or additional threads in the respective needle wales of the main thread, inasmuch as the same inevitable inequalities would be present in the said warp and additional threads, and therefore the general effect will be more or less an equalization or distribution oi. the said inequalities so as to make them substantially nonobservable.

The' needles are desirably spring beard needles but are merely diagrammatically indicated at 1 in Figs. '7 and 8. Sinkers, dividers and knocking ,over bits are provided as usual, and theniechanism functions as in that type of full fashioned hosiery machines to which my invention is applied, whether it be a Reading hosiery machine or any other type.

Before proceeding to describe the mechanism for practising my invention, I will describe the fabric thereof. In Figs. 1 and 2, the top welt of the full fashioned stocking is indicated at 5, and it will be understood that the additional or warp threads of which there is one for each needle wale of the fabric, and are each confined thereto as fully disclosed in my said application, are indicated at 6 in Fig. 3. These warp threads may be introduced into the fabric from the commencement thereof (that is, at the very commencement p of the welt) or the welt may be made in the usual manner and turned or closed, and thereupon a ;lighter main knitting thread may be substituted.-

At the same time the additional or warp threads 6 may be introduced and their feeding continuedv throughout the fabric. as will be described in detail. In Figs. 1 and 2, the leg of the stocking is tion is shaped or fashioned. This is preferably done as follows, reference being particularly made to Figs. 1 and 2.

As hereinafter described in detail, I provide a warp thread finger for each individual warp thread, so that each warp thread is introduced to one needle wale only and at all times is restricted thereto. Instead of mounting the warp thread fingers in pairs or singly for movement into and out of functioning position, I mount the fingers in a series of blocks (preferably five), namely, a long central block carrying those fingers which at all times remain in action, two shorter blocks at either side thereof carrying those fingers which during the course of the knitting introduce the warp threads into the heel tabs, and which blocks are at the proper time moved out of action, preferably manually, and two other blocks, one at either end of the needle series, carrying those warp fingers that introduce the warp threads at the salvage portions of the fabric (that is to say, to so much of the sides of the fabric blank as may be comprehended within the fashioning or narrowings) Upon reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the knitting of the fabric is continued of full width down to the transverse line 88 and that then the knitting is abruptly terminated upon certain of the needles. Those needles upon which the knitting is thus terminated are the needles whose warp fingers are carried by the outermost blocks, one at either end of the entire row or series of warp thread fingers. Nevertheless the stitches are transferred inward as indicated in Fig. l at 9-9 by means of narrowing points, which may be of the usual number at-each side or edge of the blank. Each stitch is transferred inward to the extent of one or two needles, but desirably not more than two, but the traverse of the main thread carrier is continued for the full width of the fabric down to the line 88. Inasmuch as the warp threads 6 introduced by the fingers of the two endrnost blocks, remain in action because the blocks are not as yet moved into non-functioning position, it will be evident that the warp threads continue to be supplied to the same identical needles as before, although certain stitches are laterally shifted inward, as indicated at 9. The result, however, is to provide an inclined line of small openings 10 along each side of the fabric from a transverse line 1111.down to the transverse line 88. In Fig. 3, I have exactly represented this structure of the fabric, and it will be observed that each of said openings 10 is traversed by at least one warp thread, such threads becoming at once incorporated in the further knitting of the i'abricin the triangular portions 12-12 shown in Fig. 1. After the knitting of the entire blank has been completed I trim off each edge along the line of holes 10--10. This leaves entirely acceptable edges because of the non-rim character of the fabric, and the two inclined edges are then seamed together in the customary manner and will show the two lines 9-9 of transferred stitches at each side of the seam.

I find that in practice it is desirable to narrow or fashion by transferring stitches to the extent of one needle only, because this lessens the distance that the warp threads are displaced from their normal position, to which normal position they at once return, as elsewhere set forth herein. It will be observed that in the right hand side of Fig. 3 appear several of the actual narrowings, the same being also indicated in Fig. 1.

. are provided by the usual additional traversing When the knitting has progressed to the line :8- 8, the transverse reciprocation of the main thread carrier is reduced in an automatic manner,

not herein necessary to, refer to, so that the traverse terminates at the points 13-43 of Fig. 1, and thereafter the fabric is knitted parallel sided excepting as will be described. At the termination of the heel tabs the traverse of the main thread carrier is further'reduced by the same means.

It will be understood that the. stocking blank will be seamed along all selvage edges, and also at usual points for an English type of foot, to

- which type my invention is not restricted.

' down the leg and instep to the toe 15. The heel tabs are indicated at 1616 and at theirinner edges are separated from the instep fabric, as represented most clearly at 17-1'7, Fig. 1. The high splice portions are indicated at 18-18, and

thread carriers for the reinforcing threads, and

I the movements of such additional thread carriers are controlled, in usual manner.

tions of the stocking blank or foot are indicated at 19-19, and the toe portion 15 is provided with customary narrowings 20. Narrowings are also provided in the heel tabs as represented at 21 in Fig. l, and in the sides of the foot adjacent to the heel tabs as represented at 22 in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the stocking represented in said Fig. 2 is seamed along both sides -forinly positioned with respect thereto because of the equality of the'tension of the main knitting thread and the additional or warp threads, that iture, color and character as is desirable.

the fabric and its constituent threadsall lie in an even, uniform and equal tension. Therefore, the fabric is as readily expansiblie as any knitted fabric and is as expansible longitudinally as any Knitted fabric is longitudinally expansible. In other words, the incorporation of the additional or warp threads 6, needle Wale for needle wale, does not decrease the expansibility of the fabric nor are the additional threads observable, except by amlcroscopic or similar examination, especially when the main knitting thread 25 and the additional or warp threads 6 are of the same tex- The warp threads 6 do not enter into or become incor-- porated in the sinker wales, and their presence in the needle wales prevents a run in those needle wales, inasmuch as the additional or warp threads extend lengthwise the wales, whereas the main knitting thread extends transversely of the wales. It will be understood that the fabric is knitted as rapidly as a fabric with plain loops is knitted of only a main thread.

In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, I have representedsufflcient of the general mechanism of my inven-, tion and its adaptation to the well known Read ing type of machine tomake the same entirely clear. In Fig. 4, I have represented one end portion onlyof a Reading type of full fashioned knit- The sole por-,

in each of the necessary uprights.

ting machine, and that merely sufficiently to show the application of my invention to one section thereof, but it is to be understood that all the sections of the machine, whether it be a legger or a footer, are provided with means for properly introducing the warp threads each into one needle wale of the fabric.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a horizontal portion of the framing is indicated at 26. Upstanding therefrom-and suitablybolted thereto at each end of the machine frame, there is a bracket 27 and at the inner or left hand end of the first section and at a corresponding place for each section except the endmost section at the left, there is an upright 28 similarly bolted to the frame 26. Ad-

jacent uprights 27,28 are connected together by a suitable tie rod 29, and this structure is re.-

peated throughout the machine.

I preferably provide the following mechanism for introducing the warp threads to the individual fingers, one for each knitting needle.

A shaft 30 is supported in the upright 2'7, 28, and extends the entire length of the machine. Upon that portion of the shaft between each two next adjacent uprights I provide in this embodiment of the invention five warp spools indicated at 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. 1 These spools are all loose upon the shaft 30, but are restrained from rotation by the means to be described. The length of the said spools corresponds to the length of the respective blocks in which are mounted the warp thread fingers, said blocks being indicated at 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, in Figs. '7 and 8. Upon each end of each spool is a flange 41, and as shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, a series of cords '42 having weights 43 at their lower ends are passedabout or lie in contact with a sufficient part of the periphery of said flanges to retard or restrain their feeding movement. The cords 42 are all secured as indicated at 44 at the top of the framing, The individual warp threads are wound upon the respective spools and feed off therefrom during the knitting operation.

"A suitable-tensioning means for all the'warp threads 6. (but additional to which I provide tensioning means for those warp threads that participate in the transfer or narrowing operations) is represented in Figs. 4 and 5. Therein is represented a friction bar 46 of suitable length, one for each section of the machine, which is supported for suitable transverse play in a slot 47 About said rod 46 is passed a cord 48 that extends over a small roll or drum 49 and is weighted atits end as indicated at 50. The said warp threads on their way to the individualflngers pass through suitable openings 51 in a plate 52. In this way, a suitable tension is maintained about all the warp threads (except as hereinafter described with respect to the warp threads near the selvage edges of the fabric) and is maintained the same as the tension upon the main knitting thread,

which is desirably tensioned by the means shown in my said application Ser. No. 628,391, and which need not beherein described or illustrated.

The main thread carrier is of the same type as that shown in my said application, and is operated in the same way. The warp thread fingers are indicated diagrammatically at 60 in Figs. '7 and 8, and. may be and desirably are of the. same character as shown in my said application. The narrowing points are represented at 61 and the same are also of the same character as disclosed in my said application. The warp thread fingers 60 are rigidly mounted in the several blocks 36,

37, 38, 39, 40, all of which are secured to longitudinally extending members 62, 63, supported by collars 64, 65, upon a longitudinally extending rod or shaft 66. The structure is such that the blocks 36, 37, 39, 40, may be swung, preferably manually, sufficiently outward to withdraw their warp threads from the corresponding needles.

The blocks 36, 40 are so swung into non-functioning position when the knitting has proceeded down to the transverse line 8-8 of Fig. 1, and the blocks 37, 39 are similarly swung out of functioning position when the knitting has progressed down to the end of the heel tabs 16, 16 of Fig. 1. I provide bars '71, I2 extending the entire length of the machine or one half the length thereof, by swinging which in one direction or the other the blocks 36, 40, throughout the entire machine, may at one time be swung into non-functioning position and at another time the blocks 3'7, 39 may be swung into non-functioning position.

It is unnecessary to describe or illustrate in detail the means by which the support for the warp fingers is moved to pass or wrap each warp thread about its proper needle, at the proper time. Each warp thread guide in effect, in this embodiment of my invention, makes a substantially rectangular movement about its own needle, but this movement may be varied within the scope of my invention in any suitable way that effects the introduction of each warp thread into each stitch orloop of its own needle wale.

The narrowing points 61 are moved in the manner shown in my said application Ser. No. 628,391 to eifect the transfer of stitches, such movement being automatic and controlled as set forth in said application.

It will be understood that the timing of the movements of the warp thread fingers 60 and of the main thread carrier is the same as that shown and described in my said application Ser. No. 628,391. The traverse of the main thread carrier starts substantially simultaneously with the commencement of the thread laying operation of the warp thread 6. The knitting needles commence. their descent immediately after each course of the main knitting thread is laid.

In order to impart both axial movement and a rocking movementto the rod or shaft 66, I preferably employ the same means as shown in my said application Ser. No. 628,391.

Against one end of said rod or shaft 66 takes the inclined end '75 of a vertical spindle or shaft 76 mounted to be moved axially in a guide or bearing 77. The shaft 76 has pivoted thereto an upright link v'19 which at its lower end is slotted as indicated at 80 and is there secured by a pin 81 to a lever arm 82 pivoted at 83 in the framing and normally held downward by a suitable spring 84. Upon said lever arm 82 is a roll 85 resting upon a cam 86 fast upon the main cam shaft 87. Said cam 86 is provided with a projection 88 that rides under the roll 85 and at the proper time lifts the upright shaft or rod '76 so as to impart axial movement to the rod or shaft 66. Said rod 66 is moved in the opposite direction by a suitable spring.

In order to impart suitable rockingmovement to the rod or shaft 66 so that each warp thread finger 60 may describe a suitable substantially rectangular path about its corresponding needle, said shaft 66 has fast thereon a link 89 which is secured preferably removably by a pin 90 to an upright bar or member 91. Said bar or member has at its lower end a roll 92 resting upon the periphery of a cam 93 having a concavity 94 controlling the up and down movements of said member 91, consequently controlling the rocking movement of the rod or shaft 66. The timing of the parts is such, and the relative location of the point or projection 88 and the concavity 94 are such, that the proper rectangular movements are given to the warp thread guides 60. Upon the main cam shaft 87 is a suitable cam 95 upon the periphery whereof rests a roll 96 upon a lever arm 9'? pivoted also at 83. Pivotally connected to the lever arm 97 is an upright link 98 which at its upper end is secured to the rod or bar 106 that supports the narrowing point structure.

I have stated that I provide meansfor applying tension, at the time of the lateral transfer of loops for the leg narrowings to those warp threads only which are involved in such transfer or narrowing by reason of the fact that they are incorporated in the needle wales, loops of which are being laterally transferred. I have in Figs.

9 and 10 represented one form of means for so applying tension. In Fig. 9, I have represented the two narrowing bars at 101, 102. The means for operating said bars are preferably the usual means for imparting movements to the narrowing bars of the Reading machine or other type of machine to which my invention is applied. I have therefore in Figs. 13, 14, represented in plan and in front elevation the narrowing bars and the means for operating the same which I will briefly describe.

The said bars 101, 102, are respectively connected to nuts 103, 104, upon the oppositely threaded portions 105, 106 of the shaft 107, which by means of the ratchets 108 and 109 is turned in opposite directions at the proper time automatically.' A holding wheel 110 is also provided upon said shaft 107.

Referring again to Figs. 9 and 10, there are fast upon the narrowing bars 101, 102 respectively, the upright brackets 111, 112 that pref= erably have adjusting joints 113, 114, by which the angle of the upper ends or parts may be altered if desired to accommodate them to a different position of the guide rod 115 which is suitably mounted in the upright members of the framing and over which all of the warp threads pass as indicated in Fig.10. The said rod may be adjusted in the framing by positioning the same in any of the openings 116, and if so adjusted the upper portions of the uprights 111, 112 would be adjusted at their joints, in conformity with the changed position of the rod 115.

Loosely mounted upon said rod 115 so as to rock thereon under the influence of their own weight and also so as to be slid lengthwise thereon by means of the uprights 111, 112, are two brackets 116, 11'! carrying short rods 118, 119 preferably headed as shown at 120, 121. The hubs of the said brackets 116, 117 are circumferentially grooved as indicated at 122, 123 to be engaged by the upper ends of said uprights 111 and 112, so that as the narrowing bars 101 and 102 are moved toward each other in the narrowing operation, the tension rods 118, 119 are correspondingly moved toward each other.

I have not attempted to show all the warp threads which at any time are tensioned by said rods 118, 119, but it is to be understood that the purpose of said rod is to apply a preferably light additional tension to all of those warp threads which pertain to needle wales at or near the selvages, loops of which are being entered by the narrowing points to effect the described narrow- 1w ings as illustrated in Fig. 3. The amount or extent of the, said tension is determined by the weight of the said rods 118, 119, and their supporting brackets 116, 117.

In Fig. 9 I have indicated by the brackets A, B the warp threads that receive the additional tension, but as stated I have not'here attempted to show the exact or even approximate number of said warp threads. All the other warp threads pass only over the rod 115 and certain of these other warp threads I have indicated in Fig. 9 at C. All the warp threads pass over the said rod 115. I

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown a slightly modified arrangement, but I have in said figures used the same reference characters, but have designated them as 111, 112, etc. r In addition to the structure shown in Figs. 9

and 10, I have in Fig. 11 provided an additional guide bar 124 over which are passed only those warp threads that do not receive the additional tension by the means already described.

My invention is not limited to any construction wherein a primary tension is provided for all the warp threads, for althoughI prefer to apply a primary tension to all the warp threads, my invention is particularly concerned to applying a tension to those warp threads pertaining to needle wales, loops of which are acted upon in the narrowing operation. The heads 120, 121 are.

preferably provided so as to prevent any of the warp threads from slipping off the rods 118, 119.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation; the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank and. including means to shorten said traverse at the termination of the leg narrowings; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads into the needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting-thread; means to support said fingers in a series of a relatively small number of groups,'whereof the middle group is constantly in operation, and whereof the twoend groups may be moved into non-feeding position, and means for laterally shifting or transferring inward stitches of the main knitting thread and the carrier means to traverse said main thread from correlated warp threads at substantially the usual narrowing points, and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

2. In a full-fashioned hosiery knittingmachine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads, one into each needle Wale of thefabric, coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means laterally to transfer or shift loops of the main and warn threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions, and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle walesparticipate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

3. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads, one into each needle Wale of the fabric,

coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread;

means laterally to transfer or shift loops of the main and warp threads inwardfat substantially the leg narrowing positions; means for manually moving into non-feeding position one or more groups of said fingers during the knitting of the blank; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

4. In a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers, one for each needle wale, to introduce a separate warp thread into each loop of each needle Wale of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of said loops; narrowing points adjacent each selvage portion of the fabric and means to move the same toward each other to transfer or shift loops of the main thread and correlated warp threads, thereby to provide two opposite inclined lines along which the fabric outside thereof may be subsequently trimmed, and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops of the leg narrowings.

5. In a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp'thread guiding fingers which in number sufficiently approximate the number of needle wales so as to render the fabric of a non-run or strongly rim-resistant character by reason of the introduction of warp threads into the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of said loops; means to support said fingers in a series in a small number of groups; means separately to support the warp threads for the respective small number of groups; means separately to tension the support for each of said several groups of warp threads; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participtate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

6. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traversesaid main thread from edge 'to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers which in number sufficiently approximate the number of needle wales so as to render the fabric of a non-run or strongly runresistant character by reason of the introduction of warp threads into the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of said loops; means to support said fingers in a series in a small number ofgroups; means separately to support the warp threads for the respective small number of groups; means separately to tension the support for each of said several groups of warp threads; means for separately manually throwing out of operation small end groups of said series of fingers; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

7. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having knitting needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of the main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads into different needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means laterally to transfer or shift loops composed of the main and warp threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

8. In a full-fashioned hosiery knittin machine having knitting needles and cooperat' sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce a series of warp threads into different needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of said loops; narrowing point adjacent each selvage portion of the fabric; means to move the same toward each other totransfer or shift loops composed of the main thread and correlated warp threads, thereby to provide two opposite inclined lines along which the fabric outside thereof may be subsequently trimmed; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at'or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

9. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having knitting needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops in the main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers, one for each needle wale, to introduce a separate warp thread into each loop of each needle wale of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of said loops; means to support said fingers in a series in a small number of groups; means separately to support the warp threads for the respective small numbers of groups; narrowing points adjacent each selvage portion of the fabric; means to move said narrowing points toward each other to transfer or shift loops composed of the main thread and the correlated threads, thereby to provide two oppositely inclined lines along which the fabric outside thereof may be subsequently trimmed; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads ator near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

10. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread, main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread guide from edge to edge of the hosiery blank, but including means to traverse the same the full width of the fabric past all the leg narrowings and then abruptly to shorten said traverse to substantially the space between the lower ends of the two lines of narrowing marks or openings; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads one into each needle wale of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means laterally to transfer or shift loops composed of the main knitting thread and correlated warp threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

11. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread, main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread guide from edge to edge of the hosiery blank, but including means to traverse the same the full width of the fabric past all the leg narrowings and then abruptly to shorten said traverse to substantially the space between the lower ends of the two lines of narrowing marks or openings; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads into different needle wales of the fabric respectively coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means laterally to transfer or shift loops composed of the main-knitting thread and correlated warp threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in the act of transferring or. shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

12. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having upright spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means mounted at one side of the needle series and adapted to be traversed from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads, one into-each needle wale of the fabric, coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; said warp thread guiding fingers being mounted at the opposite side of the knitting series from said thread carrier, so as to depend into position adjacent to the needles so as to be moved between said needles to lay their threads; narrowing points for insertion into loops to effect lateral transfer thereof; means to operate said points so as to provide inclined lines of indicating openings at the leg narrowing zone as a guide for trimming off fabric laterally beyond said openings; and means to apply tension pertaining only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needlewales participate in the act' of transferring or shifting loops at the leg narrowings.

13. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having upright spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means mounted at one side of the needle series and adapted to be traversed from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads, one into each needle wale of the fabric, coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; said warp thread guiding fingers being mounted at the opposite side of the knitting series from said thread carrier so as to depend into position adjacent to the needles so as to be moved between said needles to lay their threads; means laterally to transfer or shift loops composed of the main knitting thread and correlated warp threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions, and means to apply tension pertain ing only to those warp threads at or near the selvages whose needle wales participate in, the act of transferring or shifting loopsat the leg narrowings.

-guiding fingers to introduce. separate warp threads into different needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread;

means to apply tension to all said warp threads;

means laterally to transfer or shift loops composed of the main and warp threads inward at substantially the leg narrowing positions; and means to apply an additional or subsidiary tension to-those warp threads pertaining to needle wales at when the selvages, loops whereof are transferred'or shifted inward at the leg narrowings. I

15. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having knitting needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of the main knitting thread and having narrowing means; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread from edge to edge of the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding fingers to introduce separate warp threads into different needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the. laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means to tension all the warp threads; and means to apply subsidiary-tension to those warp threads located at and near the selvages to facilitate the narrowing operation.

'16. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine wherein warp threads are introduced into the respective needle wales to render the same of a non-run character, transfer or narrowing means to enter loops composed of the main knitting thread and warp threads at the leg narrowings; and warp thread controlling means to prevent the narrowing operation from impairing the tension condition of those warp threads whose needle wales participate in said narrowings.

17; In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine having spring beard needles and cooperating sinkers, etc. to form successive courses of regular loops of a main knitting thread; main thread carrier means to traverse said main thread across the hosiery blank; warp thread guiding means to introduce separate warp threads into the needle wales of the fabric coincidently with the laying of the respective courses of the loops of the main knitting thread; means to support said means in a series of groups, whereof the middle group is constantly in operation, and whereof end groups may be moved into non-feeding position, and means for laterallyshifting or transferring inward stitches of the main knit- 

